Amazing Landscapes in the Heart of Iceland

Join us for our Iceland Highlands Adventure in August 2018. Led by Andy, Randy Hanna and our Icelandic Viking Pro and Guide Skarpi Thrainsson. For centuries, the interior of Iceland was virtually inaccessible, for years at a time playing host only to outlaws in hiding. Via the mountain roads Kjölur and Sprengisandur, the untouched wilderness of Iceland’s mountainous centre is now open—for cautious exploration by foot or 4×4 vehicles—in the summer months. Join Muench Workshops Pros Randy Hanna, and our very own Viking, Skarpi on this amazing photo adventure. With three teaching pros, this workshop is limited to 11 guests. On this workshop everything is included, all meals, double occupancy lodging (singles available, just ask), transportation by 4x4 Super Jeeps, and photographic guiding and instruction from two professionals.

On the highlands workshop we cover most of the interior of Iceland. Some of the most interesting parts of Iceland with volcanic activity are to be found in the highlands, such as Landmannalaugar and the region around Askja and Herðubreið, the national mountain of Iceland. The highlands are mostly an uninhabitable volcanic desert with phenomenal photography locations in the few oasis of the dessert, which can be crossed only during the Icelandic summer (typically from June through September). For the rest of the year, the highland roads are closed. Most highland roads require four wheel drive vehicles, because it is necessary to ford rivers and rough terrain. On our workshop we use specially modified 4×4 Super Jeeps and our Icelandic Viking Guide, Skarpi, who has years of experience camping, hiking, and exploring the highlands. We will be doing some moderate hiking to the best shooting locations in the highlands, so please bring your hiking boots. Major waterfalls such as Aldeyjarfoss and Godafoss are featured as well. We’ll chase the light, out for sunrise, then day-shooting where it’s good, and sunset.

Will stay in hotels strategically located in the highlands that give us the best access to our locations.

We will also be featuring image reviews and Lightroom post-processing instruction where possible. In the field, you can expect to learn plenty: the art of seeing, making the best compositions at shoot; shooting for panoramas and HDR; proper exposure and other technical aspects of landscape photography; and of course, everything you need to know and understand about night photography.

Andy, Marc & Skarpi - thank you for an absolutely wonderful workshop! Iceland itself was an amazing location, but in many ways it felt like home because of the level of organization and experience that you guys brought to the table. The photo opportunities and locations were stunning, and instruction was plentiful. An unforgettable experience!

— David Hsia, Iceland May '15

General Itinerary and Information

As always in Iceland, this is subject to change due to weather and light conditions.

August 9, 2017: Reykjavik. You'll arrive in Reykjavik and check in to our hotel. Spend the day touring this wonderful European capital city. We'll meet at 6pm in the hotel lobby and then go out for a group dinner, get to know each other better, and run through the entire workshop.

August 10-11, 2017: Central Highlands. After breakfast we will board our private vehicles and travel northwards through the central highlands and stay in mountain huts for one night, exploring the night in the geothermal oasis of the highlands, such as Hveravellir and Kerlingarfjoll. We should be able to find a waterfall or two as well! The volcanic origin of these mountains is evidenced by the numerous hot springs and rivulets in the area. After our mountain hut experience we continue our travels northward towards Mývatn.

August 11–14, 2017: We are based out of Mývatn, where we’ll photograph the amazing Goðafoss and Aldeyjarfoss waterfalls. And—forget the massive crowds at Blue Lagoon—bring your bathing suit and we’ll have a relaxing afternoon at the Mývatn Nature Baths! We’ll photograph Mývatn's beautiful lake and the Mývatn geothermal area, with some special "secret" spots really known only to us. Time permitting, we'll visit the unique lava fields of Dimmuborgir.

August 14–17, 2017: We will drive across the Highlands, where you will see and photograph this surreal landscape. Our aim is thesouthern part of the Icelandic Highlands, where we explore the Landmannalaugar area for the next 3 days. After driving through barren nature, we approach Landmannalaugar’s colorful mountains, which were formed by centuries of volcanic activity in the area—the picturesque natural landscape in this raw climate is simply breathtaking. Landmannalaugar is famous for its hiking trails and rhyolite mountains, with their multi-colored shapes and sizes.

August 17, 2017: We'll be heading back to Reykjavik this afternoon, and stops along the way include one last waterfall and a visit to some hopefully friendly and cooperative Icelandic Horses. We plan on arriving back to our hotel in Reykjavik in the late afternoon. We'll meet for dinner one of our favorite restaurants and celebrate the amazing time we've had, and the photos captured, in Iceland's Highlands!

August 18, 2017: Flights home anytime this day.

What’s Included

Double occupancy lodging (single available, just ask)

All meals during the workshop

Transportation by private 4x4 Super Jeeps

Photographic guiding and instruction from 3 Pros

Image reviews and post-processing instruction

Fun, inspiration and a great time!

What’s Not Included?

Travel to and from Reykjavik, Iceland. Alcoholic beverages, items of a personal nature, international flights, travel and trip cancellation insurance, items of a personal nature, and anything not specifically mentioned as included.

Payment Terms

Your deposit of $3,000 USD will secure your place in this workshop. The balance of $4,995 USD is due by May 1, 2017. All of our standard terms and conditions apply.

Additional Information

Our workshops fill very fast, and this workshop is very popular, so if this one has your name on it, don't delay, register now by clicking the "Sign Me Up!" button below. We'll see you in The Highlands!

Gallery

Muench Workshops offers personal instruction and an all-inclusive experience so you can focus on your photography. Founded in 2007, we collaborate with the best pros and local guides to offer the ultimate learning environment for landscape and wildlife photographers, so you can best capture our beautiful planet.